Extension-step



A. E. SEIBERT. EXTENSION STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4, 192].

1,394,365. Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

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IN I/EN TOR 0 4.25. \5452'BeR 3 z ATTORNEYS A. E. SEIBERT.

EXTENSION STEP. APPLICATION FILED MAR.I4,1921- 1,394,365 Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

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EXTENSION :STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patieirted Oct. 18, 1:921.

Application filed March 14, 1921. Serial No. 452,139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ancnn'r E. Snrnnnr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Frankfort, in the county of Benzie and State of -Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in extension steps especially adapted for use on railway cars.

'An important object of this invention is to provide a railway extension step which may be readily and conveniently thrown to its operative position when desired and which does not protrude-to an objectionable extent when in its inoperative position.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application aims also to provide an extension step which is automatically lowered when the trap door of the step is elevated and which may be disconnected from the step when desired so that the same will remain in an elevated or inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same, 1

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the steps of a railway'car, the same being provided with the improved extension steps.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the same illustrating the extension step in its operative or extended position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the view illustrating the step in its inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed elevation illustrating the means for holding a section of the operating link in its inoperative position.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the locking device for a section of the operating link.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 'lO generally designates a stationary step of a railway car or the like and which is provided with spaced parallel stringers 11 which connect the tread plates 12 andthe risers 13.

The steps are provided with the usual trap door 14 which is hingedly supported at '15 and which forms an extension of the sta tionary platform of the train. As is well known, this trap door 14 is adapted to be swung upwardly, when it is desired to use the steps. The trap door 14 is provided at its free end portion with a latch 16 adapted to be engaged with the keeper 1? on the stationary portion of the railway oar platform.

The improved extension step which is designated by the numeral 20 is connected to the lower riser 13 by meansof a plurality of hinges 21. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and a, the forward longitudinal edge portionof the movable step 20 is provided with a re inforcing rod 22 which extends beyond the end of the step and is reduced to form pivot elements 24 to which the loops 25 on the forward ends of links 26 are connected. Fastening devices in the nature of nuts 27 are threaded on the pivot elements 24 and hold the loops 25 on the pivot elements.

The rear longitudinal edge portions of the links 26 which are arranged on opposite sides of the stringers are formed with loops 30 which receive the laterally projecting end portions 31 of cranks designated by the numeral 32 and which are secured to the extended end, portions of a shaft 33. The shaft 33 1s extended transversely of the station ary steps and is passed through bosses 3a? formed in the stringers 11. As illustrated in Fig. 41, the operating shaft 33 is concealed from View and since the same is arranged rearwardly of the upper riser and beneath the upper tread the same does not interfere with the use of the steps or form a projection which would be likely to trip passengers whenentering and leaving the train.

WVhen the shaft 33 is rotated in a clockwise direotion, the links 26 will be advanced for lowering the extension step 20 to its horizontal position. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the forward portion of each link is .provided with a stationary ear or lug 36 of triangular formation and whichis adapted to engage supporting pins 37 extended laterally from the"stringers at the lower portionof the same. When the extension step 20 is lowered, the ears 36 which are formed on the under side of the link 26 engage the supporting pins 37 and thereby limit the downward movement of the step and brace the same.

The oppositely arranged supporting pins 37 also serve to take up the strain on the shaft 33 and are formed with'heads which limit the outward movement of the links;

As illustrated in Fig; 4, a pinion 40 is rigidly secured on one end of the shaft 33 and is in mesh with a second pinion 42 keyed or otherwise secured to the adjacent end of' a stub shaft 43. The stub shaft which is carried by the U-shaped bracket 44 has one end portion provided with a crank 45 to which a link 46 is pivotally connected.

The link 46 includes a straight section 47 which is pivoted to the intermediate portion of the trap door by means of ears 48 and a longitudinally curved section 49 which is pivoted to the terminal of the crank 45. The sections 47 and 49 of the link 46 are detachably connected by means of connecting pins 50 which pass through the lower end portion of the link 47 and through the adjacent end portion of the section 49. The means employed for connecting the sections 47 and 49 of the links hold the same rigidly together so that when the door is elevated the crank 45 will be moved in a clockwise direction for imparting rotation to the stub shaft 43.

The rotation thus imparted to the shaft 43 results in the rotation of the cross shaft 33 in a clockwise direction whereby the links 26. will be advanced for lowering the extension step to its operating position.

Should it be desired to hold the extension step in its inoperative position regardless of the position of the trap door, the section 47, may be disconnected from the section 49 of the link 46 and the section 47 may be swung upwardly to engage the longitudinally curved arms of alocking device desi nated' by the numeral 52. With both en s of the section 47 thus connected to the trap door, the swinging of the trap door will not rotate the stub shaft 43 so that the step will be held in'its inoperative or elevated position. Y V

In carrying out the invention, the improved extension step may be applied to railway cars now in use or may be embodied in the same during manufacture.

WVhen the trap door is elevatedthe link 46 will assume a position close to the trap door 14 and the adjacent stringer so as not to interfere with the entrance or exit of the passengers from the car. Onestringer 11 is provided with a vertical slot 54 which slidably and freely receives the links 46.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedis: i

1. The combination with a railway step having stringers and a hinged door, of an extension step hinged-to the step, links connected to the step, means connecting the said links to said door for swinging said extention step to its operative position when the door is elevated, and stop elements disposed in the path of travel of said links to limit the movement of the same.

2. The combination with a stationary step, of an extension step hinged thereto, links pivoted to said extension step on opposite sides of :said statitonary steps, and stationary stop elements arranged in the path of travel of said links to limit the downward movement of the extension step and support the same.

3. The combination with a stationary step, of an extension step hinged thereto, links pivoted to said extension step on opposite sides of said stationary steps, stationary stop elements arranged in the path of travel of said links to limit the downward movement of the extension step and support the same, and operating meansconnested to said links.

4. The combination with a stationary step, of an extension step hinged thereto, links pivoted to said extension step and having their forward portions formed with lugs, and stop elements carried by said stationary step and arranged in the path of travel of said lugs for limiting the movement of the extension step and supporting the same.

5. The combination with stationary steps having sides, of an extension step hinged to the lower end of the stationary steps, pivot elements extending beyond the ends of the extension step, links on opposite sides of said steps and having connection with said pivot elements, said links being provided at points spaced from their ends with lugs, and headed stop elements carried by opposite sides ofsaid steps and arranged in the path of travel of said lugs.

6. The combination with stationary steps having sides, of an extension step hinged to the lower end of the stationary steps, pivot elements extending beyond the ends of the extension step, links extending on opposite sides of said steps and having connection with said pivot elements, said links being provided at points spaced from their ends with integral lugs, stop elements carried by opposite sides ofsaid steps and arranged in the path of travel of said lugs, and operatingmeans for said links.

7. The combination with stationary steps having sides, of an extension step hinged to the lower end of the stationary steps, pivot elements extending beyond the ends of the extension steps, links extending on opposite sides of said step and having connection with said pivot elements, said links being provided at points spaced from their ends with lugs, stop elements carried by said steps and arranged in the path of travel of said lugs, and an operating shaft having its ends provided with cranks'connected to the rear ends of said links.

8. The combination with stationary steps having sides, of an extension step hinged to the lower end of the stationary steps, pivot elements extending beyond the ends of the extension step, links extending on opposite sides of said steps and having con' nection with said pivot elements, said links being provided with integral lugs, stop elements carried by opposite sides of said steps and arranged in the path of travel of said lugs, an operating shaft having its ends tension step hinged to said stationary step, an operating link connected to said extension step, a second link hinged to said door and including a pair of detachably connected sections having their adjacent portions overlapped and rigidly connected, a locking device carried by said door and adapted to engage one of said sections to hold the same in its inoperative position, and means connecting said first and second named links, one of said sections being pivoted to the door.

ALBERT EDWARD SE1 WIRT. 

